HEALTHY LIVING FOR THE SOUL

Bloom Where You’re Planted or Consider Re-potting

Life is all about change and being content with the status quo is not always best for us. There comes a point when we might need to move on, to re-pot rather than continue to grow in a place we no longer bloom.

Over dinner my friend announced her big news. She is selling her home and downsizing into a retirement home cottage. She expressed satisfaction and confidence in making this big life change. One can imagine the forethought and processing that accompanied her decision. She recognizes it’s time to move to the next phase of her life. She is re-potting for the next blossoms on her arch of life.

Notice the arch of incense in the photo? I lit the match, created the spark, my part in this little miracle. The incense burned itself into a perfect arch. Release, let go, allow and appreciate life’s little miracles and the changes they bring.

The arch can represent the timeline of our lives. The spark of life begins at our birth. Some lifelines burnout quickly, while others last longer. We are here now. We may be in the ember of our lives, but as long as we are breathing and participate in life, it is up to us to keep the light lit. My centenarian friend, Jamye, used to have a favorite expression, “For the future.” She kept a calendar of things to do and always had

something to look forward to. She made her last big move at the age of ninety-nine into the independent living section of a retirement facility. While making allowances for her declining physical condition her independence and positive affirming attitude kept her strong in the final three years of her life.

I saw this quote by Jack Kerouac on Facebook, “Be in love with your life, every minute of it.” Every stage brings joy and sometimes sorrow. That reminds me of the time my Realtor told me,

“The first step to preparing your home for the market is to remove all the clutter beginning with personal photos and memorabilia.” I remember being intimidated by that process, but after completing it, I felt better about letting go and moving on because the home started to look like a shell that no longer held me in it. Recently I sold a piece of property that my husband and I purchased years ago with a plan to build our retirement home. I realized that holding on to the property involved holding on to a dream that no longer served me. It was a bitter-sweet decision, but part of my own re-potting for the next blooming season.

Embracing change helps us to move forward on our continuum of life. Here’s to your success in finding the best place for you to bloom now.

Cheryl Floyd, Speaker/Storyteller and Heal your Life® Coach. Cheryl Floyd is a graduate of East Tennessee State University’s Master Storytelling program Her career includes over thirty years in education, publishing, life coaching, public speaking, and storytelling. www.cherylfloyd.com